Pbe-hung door assembly



Nov. 9, 1965 G. A. HADACEK PRE HUNG DOOR ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 28, 1963 INVENTOR.

GEORGE A. HADACEK ua.

ATTORN EYS Nov. 9, 1965 G. A. HADACEK FREE-HUNG DOOR AS SEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 28. 1965 INVENTOR. GEORGE A. HADACEK AT'TORNEY S United States Patent l Ohio Filed Oct. 28, 1963, Ser. No. 319,225 4 Claims. or. 20-16) This invention relates to a pre-hung metal door and casing assembly, and more particularly, to an improved means for temporarily securing a metal door and casing in a predetermined relationship during shipping and to facilitate installation.

Prior to the commercial introduction of metal prehung doors, the installation of a door was a relatively slow and tedious procedure. Furthermore, the ability of a skilled carpenter was required to hang the door.

Following the teaching of the wooden pre-hung door art, the first metallic pre-hung doors were temporarily spaced from the casing by a wedge or block. A metal strap was then used to connect the door and casing assembly to hold them in a relatively rigid position. This method proved unsatisfactory because slots had to be provided in the casing member through which the metal strap passed. After the strap was removed these slots were objectionable in appearance to the building owner.

Another type of temporary retaining means found in the pre-hung door art were offset metal angles. One leg of each of the angles was secured to the outside of the casing and the other leg of each of the angles extended between the jamb portion of the casing and the outer edge of the door. After the pre-hung door was installed, these angles had to be removed, leaving screwholes exposed in the casing which were subsequently filled with casing mounting screws.

It is the primary object of the instant invention to provide an improved pro-hung door and casing assembly having temporary retaining means for retaining the door in the casing during shipping and installation and which is readily removed after the door and easing are installed.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved pre-hung door and casing assembly having temporary retaining means for holding a door and its casing in a rigid position in relationship to one another until the installation procedure has been completed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a prehung door and casing assembly which can be quickly and easily installed by both experienced tradesmen and by relatively inexperienced do-it-yourselfers."

Further objects of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view in elevation showing a prehung door and casing assembly embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, front elevational view shown on an enlarged scale, and having parts broken away to better show the temporary retaining means;

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of a shearing member which forms a part of the temporary retaining means;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal, fragmentary, sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1 and shown on an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view, similar to FIG. 4, but showing the door partly open, after the pre-hung door and casing assembly has been installed and after the temporary retaining means have been removed.

Briefiy, the present invention is a pre-hung door and casing assembly. The assembly comprises a casing having first and second side members and a cross member extending between the upper ends of the side members, the

3,216,066 Patented Nov. 9, 1965 side and cross members having jamb portions. A door is hinged along a first vertical edge to the first side member of the casing. The second vertical edge and the top of the door are adjacent to and spaced a predetermined distance from the jamb portions of the casing. Retaining means are provided for temporarily retaining the door in a closed position within the casing. Each of the retaining means comprises a shear pin extending across the space between the door and the casing, having the first end of the shear pin joined to the jamb portion of the casing and the second end joined to an edge of the door. A shearing member is located in the space between the door and the casing in force transmitting relationship to the shear pin.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings with a pre-hung door and casing assembly being generally indicated by the reference number 10. The assembly 10 comprises a casing 11 having a first side member 12, a second member 13, and a cross member 14 extending between the upper ends of the side members 12 and 13.

A door 15 is positioned within the casing 11, the door 15 having a first vertical edge 16 hinged to the first side member 12 of the casing 11. Referring to FIG. 4, a leg 17 of a piano hinge 18 is spot-welded, or otherwise suitably connected, to a jamb portion 19 of the casing 11. A second leg 20 of the piano hinge 18 is connected by metal screws 21 to the first vertical edge 16 of the door 15. The piano hinge 18 is used for this connection because it is continuous from the top to the bottom of the door 15, thereby providing insulation for the hinge side of the door without using a vinyl or wool pile insulating strip. However, leaf hinges can be substituted for the piano hinge 18, if desired.

The casing 11 illustrated in the drawings has a generally Z-shaped cross section and, consequently, is commonly known in the industry as a Z-bar. However, of course, the particular cross section is not material. In addition to the jamb portion 19, the casing 11 has a head portion 22 which frames the door and a foot portion 23. The foot portion 23 has a longitudinally extending T-slot 24 in which an insulating strip 25 is positioned A series of pre-drilled mounting holes 26 are provided in the head portion 22 of the casing 11.

The door 15 is illustrated as having two similar glass panels 27 and a metal, for example aluminum, kick" panel 28. The door 15 has a second vertical edge 29 and a top edge 30 spaced a predetermined distance from the jamb portions 19 of the second side member 13 and the cross member 14, respectively, of the casing 11.

The glass panels 27 are retained in metal sash 31 by elastomeric glazing material 32. The metal sash 31 are removably retained in the door 15 by clips 33 which are secured by thumb screws 34 and can be removed and replaced during the summer months with metal sash containing screen panels rather than glass panels.

The improved means for temporarily retaining the door 15 within its casing 11, during shipping and installation, comprises a shear pin 35 which extends through the jamb portion 19 of the casing 11 and into the second vertical edge 29 or the top edge 30 of the door 15. While the shear pin 35 is shown as a screw in the instant embodiment, other shear pins, such as rivets, thin rods or pins, or the like, may be employed. In any event, the shear pin 35 must be joined to both the door 15 and the casing 11 in order to retain them in the closed position.

The second vertical edge 29 and the top edge 30 of the door 15 define a guideway 36 with the jamb portion 19 of the casing 11. A shearing member 37 is positioned in the guideway 36 in a force transmitting relationship to the shear screw 35. The shearing member 37 preferably is of such thickness that it fits snugly between the outer edge of the door and the jamb portion 19 of the easing 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, the shearing member 37 has an outer end 38 and an inner end 39 defining a shear pin opening 40. While in this specific embodiment, the shear pin opening 40 is disclosed as being generally U-shaped, the shearing member 37 can be constructed as a solid piece, or the shear pin opening can be a circular hole through the body of the shearing member 37.

Referring to FIG. 4, the shear pin extends through shear pin opening in position to be engaged by the member 37 in a force transmitting relationship. The outer end 38 of the shearing member 37, preferably pro trudes outwardly from between the door 15 and the casing 11. However, the outer end 38 does not have to protrude outwardly from between the door 15 and the casing 11. As is shown in FIG. 1, five sets of the temporary retaining means comprising the pin 35 and shear member 37 are shown on the particular door and casing assembly 10; however, the number of retaining means used will depend on factors such as the size and weight of the door 15.

In a typical installation procedure, the door and casing assembly 10 is positioned within a building door opening 41 which is partially defined by vertical support mem bers, for example, studs 42. The assembly 10 is shimmed to its proper position above the threshold and is plumbed and centered to its proper position within the door opening 41. pre-drilled holes 26 in the head portion 22 of the casing 11 and are driven into the door opening support members, for example the studs 42. Up until this time the door 15 has been held in a rigid position with respect to the casing 11 and also in its predetermined spaced relationship.

The installer now strikes the outer end 38 of the shearing member 37 with a hammer or similar tool. The shearing member 37 moves inwardly in the guideway 36 and the transmitted force severs the shear pin 35.

If the outer end 38 of the shearing member 37 does not protrude outwardly from between the door 15 and the casing 11, a screw driver, chisel, or similar tool, is placed against the outer end 38 to transmit force from the hammer to the shearing member 37.

It should be noted that the retaining means, according to the instant invention, does not leave unsightly damage to either the door 15 or the casing 1.1. Also, no special tools are required and therefore a door and easing assembly constructed according to the instant invention is very easily installed by the average home owner or building owner.

While the present invention has been disclosed in connection with a specific arrangement and disposition of the parts, it should be expressly understood that numerous modifications and changes could be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A pre-hung door and easing assembly comprising, in combination, a casing having first and second side members and a cross member extending between the upper ends of said side members, said side and cross members having jamb portions, a door hinged along a first vertical edge to said first side member and positioned thereby with the second vertical edge and the top edge thereof adjacent and spaced a predetermined distance from the jamb portions of said second side member and said cross member, respectively, and means for temporarily retaining said door in a closed position in said casing, said retaining means comprising, a shear pin extending through said jamb portion across such space between said door and casing and into the edge of said Mounting screws 43 are then inserted into the door and a shearing member located in such space in a force transmitting relationship to said shear pin and fitting snugly between adjacent portions of said door and said casing, the outer end of said shearing member protruding from between said door and said casing.

2. A pre-hung door and casing assembly comprising, in combination, a casing having first and second side members and a cross member extending between the upper ends of said side members, said side and cross members having jamb portions, a door hinged along a first vertical edge to said first side member with the second vertical edge and the top edge of said door adjacent to and spaced a predetermined distance from th jamb portions of said second side members and said cross member, respectively, and means for temporarily retaining said door in a closed position in said casing, said retaining means comprising, a shear pin extending across said space between said door and said casing and having a first end joined to said jamb portion and a second end joined to said edge of said door and a shearing member located in such space in force transmitting relationship to said shear pin.

3. A pre-hung door and casing assembly comprising, in combination, a casing having first and second side members and a cross member extending between the upper ends of said side members, said side and cross members having jamb portions, a door hinged along a first vertical edge to said first side member and positioned with the second vertical edge and top edge of said door adjacent to and spaced a predetermined distance from the jamb portions of said second side member and said cross member, respectively, and means for temporarily retaining said door in a closed position in said casing, said retaining means comprising, a shear screw extending through such jamb portion across such space between said door and said casing and into the edge of said door and a shearing member located in such space in force transmitting relationship to said shear screw, the inner end of said shearing member defining a shear screw engaging recess, and the outer end of said shearing member protruding from between said door and said casing.

4. A pre-hung door and easing assembly comprising, in combination, a casing having first and second side members and a cross member extending between the upper ends of said side members, said side and cross members having jamb portions, a door hinged along a first vertical edge to said first side member and positioned thereby with the second vertical edge and the top edge of the door adjacent to and spaced a predetermined distance from the jamb portions of said second side member and said cross member respectively, said second vertical edge and said top edge of said door defining a guideway with said jamb portion of said casing, and means for temporarily retaining said door in a closed position in said casing, said retaining means comprising, a shear pin extending across such space between said door and said casing, said shear pin having a first end joined to said edge of said door and a second end joined to said jamb portion, and a shearing member positioned in such guideway in a force transmitting relationship to said shear pin, the outer end of said shearing member protruding from between said door and said casing, and the inner end of said shearing member defining a shear pin opening, said shear pin being positioned within such opening.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PRE-HUNG DOOR AND CASING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A CASING HAVING FIRST AND SECOND SIDE MEMBERS AND A CROSS MEMBER EXTENDING BETWEEN THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS, SAID SIDE AND CROSS MEMBERS HAVING JAMB PORTIONS, A DOOR HINGED ALONG A FIRST VERTICAL EDGE TO SAID FIRST SIDE MEMBER AND POSITIONED THEREBY WITH THE SECOND VERTICAL EDGE AND THE TOP EDGE THEREOF ADJACENT AND SPACED A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE FROM THE JAMB PORTIONS OF SAID SECOND SIDE MEMBER AND SAID CROSS MEMBER, RESPECTIVELY, AND MEANS FOR TEMPORARILY RETAINING SAID DOOR IN A CLOSED POSITION IN SAID CASING, SAID RETAINING MEANS COMPRISING, A SHEAR PIN EXTENDING THROUGH SAID JAMB PORTION ACROSS SUCH SPACE BETWEEN SAID DOOR AND CASING AND INTO THE EDGE OF SAID DOOR AND A SHEARING MEMBER LOCTED IN SUCH SPACE IN A FORCE TRANSMITTING RELATIONSHIP TO SAID SHEAR PIN AND FITTING SNUGLY BETWEEN ADJACENT PORTIONS OF SAID DOOR AND SAID CASING, THE OUTER END OF SAID SHEARING MEMBER PROTRUDING FROM BETWEEN SAID DOOR AND SAID CASING. 